The Minister of National Defense Nikos Dendias, in his greeting, emphasized that the MH-60 Romeo helicopters give new capabilities to the Navy, which acquires “a fleet of high capabilities” and thanked the present former Minister of National Defense Nikos Panagiotopoulos for carrying out the agreements for the acquisition of the helicopters. “Increasing the operational capabilities of the Armed Forces is a top priority,” he noted.
Referring to the reform of the Armed Forces, he reiterated that “a holistic approach is needed that will create a modern Armed Forces with innovation, development of domestic capabilities, units with complements, a different form of tenure, a different mindset.”
General Dimitrios Houpis, the head of the General Directorate of Defense and Security, underlined that with the receipt of the Romeo helicopters, “a goal of the fundamental upgrade of the Armed Forces is being implemented.”
The new helicopters, continued the GEETHA chief, help crucially in “achieving operational objectives” for the benefit of the Armed Forces.
“We fulfill the task in full, utilizing the technological means with our excellent staff” concluded the head of GEETHA.
GEN chief Vice Admiral Dimitrios – Eleftherios Kataras pointed out that the Navy has already received three Romeo helicopters and added that “4 more helicopters are expected in 2025”.
He also emphasized that the Romeos, “the submarine hunters” as he described them, will increase “the operational capabilities of the Fleet” and will ensure “our national interests”.
After the customary consecration, a video was shown with details of the construction of the Romeo helicopter as well as footage of its transport to Greece.
Immediately afterwards the Prime Minister and the Minister of National Defense flew in an MH-60 Romeo helicopter on a 20-minute flight.
The ceremony was attended by, among others, the Deputy Minister of National Defense Ioannis Kefalogiannis, the head of GES Lt. General Georgios Kostidis, the head of GEA Vice-Admiral Demosthenes Grigoriadis, the honorary head of GEETHA admiral e.a. and SYRIZA member of parliament Evangelos Apostolakis, ND members of parliament Nikos Vlahakos and Dionysis Hatzidakis, the US ambassador in Athens George Tsounis, the honorary leader of GEETHA general e.a. Konstantinos Floros, executives of the manufacturing company Sikorsky as well as a number of executives of the Armed Forces.
Navy: Greece is getting stronger – Receiving 3 new Romeo anti-submarine helicopters, the Mitsotakis message
The Greek Navy fleet is getting stronger as our country received 3 new Romeo anti-submarine helicopters.
At the air base of Kotroni, in the presence of the prime minister Kyriakou Mitsotakisand of the Minister of Defense, Nikos Dendias, the Navy added three new Romeo MH-60R Seahawk anti-submarine helicopters to its force.
The Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense flew in the new helicopters. “Greece even stronger” wrote the Minister of Defense, Nikos Dendias, in his post about the receipt of the helicopters.
We receive today, in his presence ceremony @PrimeministerGR Kyriakou Mitsotakis at the Naval Base in Marathon, the new MH-60 ROMEO helicopters. Greece even stronger! #elladadynati pic.twitter.com/JGWamvYaH5
— Nikos Dendias (@NikosDendias) March 20, 2024
“These helicopters enhance their value at a time when geopolitical instability is unfortunately intensifying in our wider region,” said the prime minister and added:
“And despite the calm that fortunately prevails now in the Aegean, we must not forget that our neighbors to the east are also accelerating their own armaments program.”
The prime minister also emphasized: “Approaches are therefore required, but illusions are not allowed under any circumstances. And we all have to be alert but never naive. Staying fixed on the compass that always points to peace, international law and cooperation.”
Navy: The Basic Features
In total, Greece will acquire seven such helicopters that are the fruit of the transnational program that we co-signed with the United States.
The MH-60R Seahawks are the most renowned means of naval operations in both anti-submarine and surface warfare as they have sophisticated detection, strike and countermeasures systems that offer unique capabilities in the three-dimensional battle space of naval conflicts of our time.
#PN75… MH-60 Romeo era in Kotroni of Marathon, in the “nest” of the AegeanHawk @NavyGR . pic.twitter.com/Hp770NhH3g
— George E. Sideris (@GESideris) March 20, 2024
As government sources point out, the interoperability of these helicopters with other Navy units and the Belharra frigates, which will soon join the fleet, is equally important, as well as their compatibility with the aeronautical equipment of our NATO allies, an element that strengthens Greece’s role as a pillar of regional security in the Southeast Mediterranean.
Greece is the seventh country to receive the US Navy MH-60R naval helicopter. In Europe, Denmark operates 9 MH-60Rs. In 2023, Spain and Norway ordered a total of 14 MH-60R helicopters. The first three Romeos are expected to join the 1st Helicopter Squadron of the Fleet along with the aging AB-212s.
Greece ordered the MH-60R helicopters in two phases. Four were ordered in July 2020 and three more in April 2021 through an intergovernmental Foreign Military Sales (FMS) agreement with the US government.
After receiving the first three helicopters, the remaining four will arrive in 2025, completing the purchase of the Greek Navy. The Navy’s MH-60Rs will join the 11 existing S-70B/B6 Seahawks, also known as Aegean Hawks, that were purchased directly from Sikorsky between 1994 and 2005, at the Navy’s helicopter base in Kotroni.
| specifications | |
|---|---|
| Length Width Height | 15.26/1.75/3.79m |
| Impeller diameter | 16,36/3,35 |
| Weight (empty) | 6,895 tons |
| Weight (Maximum) | 10,659 tons |
| Business roof | 3,438 kilometers |
| Range | 592 kilometers |
| Speed (Maximum/Operating) | 267 I lose / 168 I lose |
| Initial rate of rise | 8.38 m/d |
| Motor | 2 General Electric T700-GE-401C turboshaft – 1,425kW |
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